Beyond The Mud

On this episode of Beyond The Mud, Mud (Mike) gets brutally honest about what it’s like to look “put together” on the outside while feeling like a complete imposter on the inside. Four days into a new antidepressant, juggling ADHD meds, sobriety, single fatherhood, and a nonstop grind, he talks about the days when the tools stop feeling like they work the writing, the therapy, the medication, the gratitude, all of it.

Mud opens up about anxiety, social anxiety, trauma, addiction, neurodivergence, and fatherhood, and what it’s like to still feel broken even after doing “everything right.” No highlight reel, no fake positivity just a real conversation about living with a brain that was rewired by years of alcohol, prescription drugs, instability, and emotional neglect… and still choosing to fight for a better life anyway.

You’ll hear about the lonely road where he takes his guilt, pressure, and anger so his kids don’t have to carry it. You’ll feel the tension of trying to be a present dad while battling imposter syndrome, overthinking, and the fear that you’ll become the person you swore you’d never be.

If you’ve ever wondered, “Why do I still feel like this after all the work I’ve done?” this episode is for you.

Topics:

mental health, depression, anxiety, neurodivergent, ADHD, antidepressants, therapy, sobriety, addiction recovery, single dad, healing journey, imposter syndrome, childhood trauma, inner work, faith, self-doubt, nervous system, healing while parenting.

Listen, share with someone who’s struggling in silence, and remember: you’re not alone

In today’s raw and unfiltered journal entry, I reflect on the past few weeks of mental burnout, parenting struggles, identity shifts, sobriety challenges, and awkward public moments (including that time I accidentally sent 30 personal photos to the wrong person yeah, that happened). From waking up at 5AM to keep my mind in check, to feeling like a stranger in social settings, I open up about what it really means to be a high functioning human just trying to hold it together.

This episode dives into anxiety, personal growth, fatherhood, loneliness, and what happens when life feels like a loop of doing your best but still feeling off. If you've ever questioned your worth, laughed through your breakdowns, or wondered why healing feels like a full-time job this one’s for you.

We cry, we laugh, and we keep it brutally honest.

Because this isn’t just a podcast it’s a journal you didn’t know you needed.

Keywords for discovery: mental health podcast, journal entry, sobriety, anxiety, self-growth, fatherhood, real talk, emotional healing, podcast for healing, raw storytelling, self discovery, inner work, vulnerability, burnout, comedy podcast about life

In this raw and unforgettable episode of the Boardwalk Academy Series, we dive into Michelle’s powerful journey from surviving trauma to becoming a beacon of leadership and healing. Once trapped in a cycle of pain, silence, and self-doubt, Michelle found the strength to face her past, embrace her worth, and rise into her purpose not just for herself, but for others walking a similar path.

Through heartbreak, resilience, and self-reinvention, Michelle's story reminds us that true leaders are often forged in the fires of adversity. Her transformation is more than inspiring it’s a call to action for anyone who has ever felt unseen, unheard, or broken.

💥 Whether you’re battling your own demons, supporting someone who is, or searching for stories of real redemption, this episode will shake your soul and lift your spirit.

👉 Tune in and hear how community, courage, and connection at Boardwalk Academy helped Michelle turn her wounds into wisdom and how her voice is now helping others rise beyond the mud.

Ever felt like you’re carrying on a sitcom inside your own head—your brain playing the uptight accountant while your heart barges in like a DJ cranking the volume? This is an episode you need to hear.

First, you’ll jump into my car on a Sunday afternoon and eavesdrop on a raw, unfiltered journal entry. I’m talking about everything from teenage road trips and Crumbl cookie runs to basketball meltdowns and crying in the middle of JCPenney. It’s messy, it’s honest, and it’s the kind of story that will make you feel a little less alone.

Then we pop the hood on the constant tug‑of‑war between logic and emotion. You’ll learn why your brain and heart are always competing for control—and how to make them partners instead. This isn’t just woo‑woo talk; it’s grounded in science about heart–brain communication and practical tools that actually work.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

Why your brain keeps replaying mistakes while your heart begs you to move on—plus the research that explains it.

The surprising ways your heart sends signals back to your brain (hint: it’s not all in your head).

How breathing, movement and a few simple “mind–heart check‑ins” can quiet mental chatter and tap into your intuition.

Small daily practices to stop self‑sabotage and bring your whole body into harmony—so your mind, heart and gut finally get on the same team.

How understanding this connection can improve your relationships, help you make better decisions and give you real peace of mind.

Whether you’re an overthinker, a feeler, or somewhere in between, this episode will help you stop fighting yourself and start feeling whole. Tune in to laugh, cry, learn, and walk away with a game plan to make your mind and heart work together—because when they do, everything changes.

🎙️ Beyond The Mud: Season 2 – The After Growth

It’s been almost a year since I dropped my first episode. A year of raw confessions, ugly truths, goosebump moments, and one huge milestone: I haven’t touched a drop of alcohol since the day this podcast was born. 💥

This episode is different. I went back and re-listened to Season 1 for the first time—and hearing my own story gave me chills. The tears, the laughter, the growth—it all hit harder than ever. And now? We’re stepping into the after growth.

👉 From surviving sobriety to joining a leadership academy I never thought I’d belong in.

👉 From friend groups that were dead to finally rebuilding real connections.

👉 From being broke as hell to learning how to fix my finances (and finding the comedy in every dollar I don’t have).

This isn’t a “look at me, I’ve figured it out” podcast. This is a real-time blueprint for growth—with all the screw-ups, breakthroughs, and savage comedy along the way.

If you’ve ever felt stuck in the mud, this episode will remind you: the mud is where the lotus grows. 🌱

Hit play. Laugh. Reflect. Get inspired. Then go make your own story worth re-listening to a year from now.

Ever notice how we’re all great at asking dumb questions like “Why does my phone battery die so fast?” but never stop to ask the questions that actually matter?

That ends today. In this episode of Beyond The Mud, I’m flipping the script and handing YOU 5 brutally honest questions that could actually change your life (or at least make you stop scrolling for 20 minutes).

We’ll dive into the stuff nobody likes to admit—comparison, decision-making, relationships, anxiety, family drama—and why adults basically walk around acting like oversized toddlers who just pay bills. By the end, you’ll have five questions to slap yourself with whenever you’re stuck, overthinking, or feeling like life’s a cosmic prank.

This is self-growth with zero sugarcoating, a ton of laughs, and some actual science sprinkled in so you don’t feel like you wasted your time.

🚨 Share this with a friend who needs it (translation: we all know that one person), drop a rating, follow the show, and if you want to tell me your story or just roast me, email me at [email protected]

or hit me up on Facebook: Beyond The Mud

.

In Journal Entry 38 of Beyond The Mud, things get real. This is the episode for anyone who's ever been loved for their authenticity and hated for the same reason. I open up about the emotional cost of this podcast — the anonymous death threats, the desperate messages from listeners on the edge, and the burden of being told, “You saved my life.” But we don’t end there. Thanks to the incredible support from Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and iHeartRadio — and the 25,000+ who listened to the meditation episode — we’re now introducing a moment of peace at the end of each entry. This is where healing begins. Stay for the story. Stay for the silence. Stay for the real.

No matter where you are in your day work, home, or somewhere in between this guided meditation is your invitation to pause.

In this special episode of Beyond The Mud, I’m stepping into something new with you: a 15-minute guided meditation to help you breathe deeper, feel lighter, and remember that you’re enough.

Whether you’re stressed, overwhelmed, or just need a reset, you’ll be guided through simple breathing, visualization, and mindfulness practices that anyone can do no experience required.

We’ll learn together how to slow down, let the mud settle, and find a little clarity in the middle of life’s chaos.

You deserve this moment. Press play, breathe, and let’s do this together.

🎙 Stop overthinking it. Start doing it.

Welcome to Beyond The Mud, where dreams don’t sit on vision boards collecting dust — we drag them out, give them a reality check, and kick them into motion.

In this laugh-out-loud but painfully real episode, I’m giving you 5 things you can do TODAY to start chasing your dreams (or get unstuck if you’ve been in dream limbo for way too long). No fluff. No “just manifest it” woo-woo. Just real actions you can take before the sun goes down.

We’re talking:

✅ How to stop planning yourself into a coma and actually start

✅ The “I Did” list that’ll keep you fired up

✅ How to start before you’re ready (because you’ll never be ready)

✅ Why overthinking is the ultimate dream-killer

✅ Small wins that lead to big momentum

Whether your goal is to start a business, write a book, get fit, or finally launch that side hustle you’ve been talking about for five years — this episode is your permission slip to start NOW.

So grab your coffee, grab your pen, and let’s get your dreams out of your head and into reality.

📲 Follow, rate, and share this episode with someone who needs a kick in the ass (or a gentle nudge — we do both here).

They know my name… but they don’t know me."

In this raw and unfiltered episode of Beyond The Mud, I strip away the masks and talk about the real me. The me that wrestles with doubt, perfectionism, and the constant pressure to be “on.” The me that hides behind too many faces—until now.

This isn’t a motivational cliché. This is truth.

I’m talking directly to you—the one who’s been feeling misunderstood, overworked, and under‑seen. The one who’s smiling for the world but fighting a battle nobody knows about. The one who’s tired of wearing masks just to fit in.

I’m sharing my most honest journal entry yet, because the truth is… the only way to find yourself is to strip away who you’re pretending to be. And once you do? You’ll find freedom you didn’t know you were searching for.

🎧 If you’ve ever felt like nobody truly knows you—this episode will hit home.

📩 Email: [email protected]

📱 TikTok: Mudshuvel Rants

📘 Facebook: Beyond The Mud